Engine fuel tank filler



Dec. 8, 1953 D. D. SPEER 2,661,886

ENGINE FUEL TANK FILLER Filed Nov. l, 1950 Fig;

Patented Dec. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT a OFFICE A, y2,661,886 ENGINE FUEL TANK FILLER v Douglas D. SpeerfMarysville, Wash.

' Application November 1, 1950, Serial No. 193,427

`a vacuum-operated fuel tankv filling attachment connected to the intake ymanifold of the engine for pumping fuel from a drum on the ground into the fuel tank of the tractor.

A still further object is to provide float-oper-k ated means for cutting off the vacuum line when the fuel in the fuel tank reaches a predetermined level.

`A still further object is to providea device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is efficient and reliable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install in operative position on the tractor and which is otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the filler connection for the fuel tank and showing the float-controlled cutoff valve for the vacuum line; and

Figures 3 and 4 are transverse sectional views taken respectively on the lines 3 3 and 4 4 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing in detail wherein, for the `purpose of illustration, I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral designates a fitting having an externally threaded fianged portion 3 for threading-in the filling opening 1 of a fuel tank 8 of a farm tractor 9. The upper end of the fitting 5 is threaded for connecting a filling hose I I thereto, leading from a drum I2 resting on the ,ground at one side of the tractor,

A tube I3 extends downwardly into the fuel tank 8 from the threaded connecting portion 6 of the fitting, one side of the tube I3 at its upper portion being formed with an opening I4.

The tube I3, below the opening I4, is closed by a plate I5 and to which is suitably secured a verclaims. (c1. 226-116) e tical tubular valve housing EG with the lower end of the housing projecting downwardly through plate I5 into tube I3.

The upper portion of valve housing I5 is formed with a valve seat I1 leading to a `vertical passage e I8 to which a vacuum hose or line I3 is attached by means of a fitting 20, the vacuum line I 9 being suitably connected to the intake manifold 2| of the engine of the tractor.

A transverse pin 25 suit- A disk 26 is secured to the bottom of floatv 24 to project outwardly from the sides thereof and 4with which the upper end 21 'of a pivoted catch f 28 is engaged, the catch being pivoted adjacent yits lower end on a pin 29 suitably secured internally of tube I3, the upper end of the catch being Lswingable outwardly .through an opening 30 in the side of tube I3.

The upper end 21 of catch y28 is held in an outwardly inclined position and the lower end of catch 28 is soldered to a lower float 3I also positioned in tube I3 under float 24, the lower float 3! holding the upper end of catch 21 inwardly in engagement with disk 26 at the bottom of float 24 to hold the upper float 24 from rising prematurely to close valve 22.

A vertical tube 23 is positioned in the upper portion of tube I3 with the upper end of tube 32 connected to valve housing I5 beneath the valve seat I1, the lower end of tube 32 extending through plate I5 adjacent an opening 33 in one side of tube I3.

In the operation of the device, fitting 5 is threaded into the filling opening 1 of a fuel tank 8 and filling hose II connected to the top I0 of the fitting and leading to a supply drum I 2. The fitting 20 at the upper end of valve housing I5 is then connected to the intake manifold 2| of the engine by the vacuum hose o-r line I 9.

The carburetor of the engine is connected to the auxiliary fuel tank 34, with which the tractor is usually equipped, and the engine started to evacuate air from fuel tank 8 by way of opening 33, tube 32, valve housing I 6 and vacuum tube I9, to thus draw fuel from drum I2 through hose II into fitting 5 and out through opening I4 into tank 8.'

.The upper' float 24 is held from raising movement, due to vacuum created in tube I3, .by catch 2l which is held engaged ywith disk 26 of float 24 by lower float 3 I, to thus keep valve 22 open.

As the level in tank 8 rises, lower float 3l is initially raised to release catch 21 and upper iioat 24 is then permitted to raise for closing valve 22 to cut of the vacuum and the pumping action ceases.

A check valve 35 is provided in vacuum line i9 to prevent danger of backfire from the engine.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and describeda preferred embodiment of the invention, the saine 'is susceptible to certainl changes fully comprehended by the spirit ofthe invention as herein described and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A tank ller comprising a tting for attach ing a filling hose to a tank filling opening, said fitting extending downwardly into the tank and having an opening in one side of its inner end, a partition in the inner end of the fitting below 'said opening to divert liquid entering the tting `outwardly through the opening in the tank, a valve housing in the fitting having an open lower end below the partition, a valve seat in the valve housing, means for attaching a suction line to the valve housing above the valve seat, an air passage leading from the upper portion of the tank to the valve housing below the valve seat for evacuating air from the tank, a float-controlled valve in the housing for closing the valve seat and including a iioat, a catch holding the float in a lowered position, and a second float locking the catch in engagement withk the first float.

`2. A tank iiller comprising a iitting for attaching a filling hose to a tank filling opening, said iitting extending downwardly into the tank and having an opening in one side of its inner end, a partition in the inner end of the fitting below said opening to divert liquid entering the iitting outwardly through the opening in the tank, a valve housing in the fitting having an open lower end below the partition, a valve seat in the valve housing, means for attaching a suction line to the valve housing above the valve seat, an air passage leading from the upper portion of the tank to the valve housing below the valve seat for evacuating air from the tank, a float-controlled valve in the housing for closing the valve seat and including a float, a catch holding the float in a lowered position, and a second iioat locking the catch in engagement with the first oat, both of saidfloa'ts being housed in the fitting.

3. A tank ller comprising a iitting for attaching a iilling hose to a-vtank filling opening, said fitting extending downwardly into the tank and having an opening in one side of its inner end, a partition in the inner end of the fitting below said opening to divert liquid entering the fitting outwardly through the opening inthe tank', a valve housing in the fitting having an open lower end vbelow the partition, a valve seat in the valve housing, means for attaching a suction line to the valve housing'above the valve seat, an air passage leading from the upper portion of the tank to the valve housing'belo'w the valve seat for evacuating air from the tank, a valve in the housing for closing the valve seat, an rupper float attached to thev valve,v a catch holding-the upper float in a lowered position to maintain the valve open, and a lower float locking-the catch in engagernent with the upper float.

" DOUGLAS D.' SPEER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name i Date 1,443,977 Carr e Feb; 6, 1923 1,913,073 Hays June 6, 1933 2,325,274 Pye July 27, 1943 

